“Circle of Life”: It Has a Big Affect!

They say there are no coincidences in life, so here’s something totally off the wall. After about two years of owning and beginning our rehab clinic, which was quickly growing into a full exercise facility we hired our second employee who happens to be the son of the director from where I did my internship at the Institute for Aerobics research in Dallas. However, neither of us knew this prior to us hiring him! It was crazy to discover that our worlds had collided again, only this time a generation later. So, the beauty of our lives circling each other is now that I get to “talk shop” with his dad, when he is in town. Guess what, we got to talk shop this past weekend. Lucky for you, ‘cause here’s my topic.

So what’s your opinion on social influence regarding exercise and health? Pretty big, wouldn’t you agree? Do you believe that most humans live in what can be called a social or familial “enclave” of sorts? We tend to surround ourselves with individuals who think alike and act alike and believe in the same things. Do these enclaves have such a stronghold on us individually that it’s impossible to make changes for our individual selves?

Some of the demographic research that he has been using for his next book suggests that most individuals cannot make permanent lifestyle changes and maintain them, unless the social and familial “enclave” within which they live makes the changes as well. Individuals are not strong enough to do it alone which is why we fail so often and research seems to support this. If you break down demographic locations and/or organizations you will find that the healthiest individuals live and socialize in more healthy enclaves and those that are unhealthy tend to live in environments surrounded by those practicing identical unhealthy lifestyles.

He was telling me how he has been working with groups that are very similar in regards to professional, social, religious and financial issues and trying to see if he can influence the entire enclave of individuals, then maybe there will be success across the board within that small particular social familial group of individuals. He was suggesting that if the health care industry honestly wants to make a dent in the plummeting health of the nation, that they must go after reform as a more “social” or “community” oriented campaign instead of targeting individuals. If you can target a “group” to change their lifestyle then the chances of success on each individual level is much higher which in turn improves the successes of the entire community or group.

Even here in Estes I can see where small enclaves of businesses have discovered this to be true. Yes, off the top of my head I can easily think of three businesses that encourage their employees to be healthier by allowing them longer lunches and/or providing incentives for those who exercise. It probably doesn’t have anything to do with what incentives the business provides. The individuals that I know exercise because many of their co-workers do and it unites each employee on a level that only enhances their working relationships. You can also see this with families. Most of the time if someone exercises on a regular basis, you’ll find that others from that family also exercise, including extended family and their closest friends that are like family to them.

To end this topic bluntly, think about a good ‘ole southern back-country family reunion where healthy living includes gravy on everything, moving from one recliner to another is considered exercise and two-ton Tina isn’t far from the truth. Do you believe that one individual can be pulled from that enclave and change their lifestyle forever and truly be able to maintain it? Very doubtful, the individual who could concur that would probably need to quit participating in those family reunions and change their “circle of life/enclave” completely. Whew, now that’s big reform and an example of why it’s so hard to accomplish, both individually and within an entire group of individuals!

These are just thoughts of two writers comparing what they are discovering makes a difference in our world. I encourage you to look at those who are part of your “circle of life” and see if that is why you are not achieving the successes you want to achieve in your health. Our guess is that if you want to see success than make sure you hang with individuals who also want success in their healthy living. Food for thought!

 

Deborah Holmes

August 25, 2008